Volunteer with MEOW co.

Whether you help at our No-Kill Cat Shelter/Hospital located in Bakersfield, California, in your community, or from your home, you’ll make a real difference in the lives of abandoned cats & kittens, meet others who love kitties, and have fun!

Cat Shelter

Join our amazing team of volunteers who manage and care for orphaned cats & kittens at our No-Kill Cat Shelter. Our Volunteers have rescued more than 1,000 cats from local shelter's put to sleep lists.

foster

Open your loving home to an at-risk cat or kitten, and give them a second chance at finding their Foreverhome. Letting kittens crash at your place is a great way to save lives and help socialize kitties.

Frequently Asked Questions

span style="font-size: 10pt;">How far in advance should I sign up for volunteer shifts?

Volunteer shifts should be scheduled as far in advance as possible. Each shelter area has a maximum number of volunteers it can accommodate during each shift and may fill up. To get started, please complete the volunteer application below or contact the Shelter Volunteer Department at volunteers@meowco.org or 661-XXX-XXXX

Who can volunteer?

We welcome anyone who is Twelve years old and up, although minors age 12-17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian while volunteering. Each adult can supervise up to three minors during a volunteer shift.

What volunteer opportunities are available?

We invite you to participate in the regular routine of cat care such as feeding, cleaning, grooming, etc. Spending time socializing with the cats is also important, as it helps make them more adoptable and gets them closer to a forever home.

For safety considerations, each cat area has its own minimum age requirements.

What are the daily volunteer shifts?

There are two volunteer shifts every day of the year. Shift times are 9:00-11:30 a.m. and 1:00-3:00 p.m. The Shelter is on Pacific Time.

How do I schedule volunteer time?

You have the ease and flexibility of creating your complete volunteer schedule with your coordinator. We suggest you schedule your volunteer shift as far in advance as possible because we get very busy and each volunteer area has a maximum number of volunteers it can accommodate during each shift. To get started complete the Volunteer application below or contact the Volunteer Department at volunteers@meowco.org

What happens when I arrive at the shelter?

You will have a pre-scheduled 10-minute check-in at the shelter reception prior to volunteering. A staff member from the shelter will meet with you to provide shelter badges, schedules, and other important information to make your volunteer experience the best it can be.

Can I take an cat on an outing or sleepover?

Some of our cats and kittens are approved to go with volunteers on sleepovers and some of our cats are approved to go on outings which is a real treat for them. To take a cat on a sleepover or outing you’ll first need to volunteer at least one shift in that specific animal area. No advance reservations are necessary for outings or sleepovers—those arrangements will be made onsite when you’re volunteering.

Please note that if you’re travelling with your own pet(s) you won’t be able to take one of the Sanctuary animals on a sleepover. Also, any children in your group must be six years old to take a cat and 10 years old to take a dog. *MEOW co. does work with dogs from time to time.

What should I wear?

Closed-toe shoes are required for volunteering in all animal areas. Sneakers or hiking shoes are the preferred footwear and shoes must have a heel strap at minimum. Clog type shoes are not permitted as shoes could fall off while walking animals, climbing ladders or performing other volunteer tasks. It’s a good idea to wear long pants in all the areas. We advise dressing in layers during the spring, fall and winter months because the mornings can be chilly and the afternoons warm.

Can my own pets accompany me in the animal areas?

For everyone’s safety, your own pets are not allowed in any of the animal areas nor are they allowed to remain unattended in your vehicle.

Have more questions?

Please email us at volunteers@meowco.org or call us at 661-XXX-XXXX. We are open every day at 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Pacific Time.